and more. To me reputations are not that big of a deal they are just what others see and sometimes not based on who you really are. English 3 - 5th hour "A man may think God sleeps, but God sees everything, I know it now. The Crucible is just as important to all people in the 21st century as Salem in 1692. Reputation, the beliefs or opinions that are, Orizu By clicking Receive Essay, you agree to our, A Raisin in the Sun: Character Analysis Carol, Essay Sample: Free Will Over Fate In the play Macbeth, Who is Responsible for the Death of Romeo and Juliet? This further demonstrates the theme when she says, "My name is good in the village! Because they are attempting to protect their prominence, each of them tend to act abnormally in the Puritan society. They were willing to be pressed to death by giant stones, hang on the scaffold in front of the entire town, or be branded a witch to save their reputation or the reputation of those they cared about. When asked to postpone the execution of Rebecca Nurse and John Proctor he says that, postponement now speaks a floundering on [his] part(129). Parris could have been intended by Miller to be a warning or an outcry to the government, as his actions took the story in a direction that led to almost the downfall of their society. All of the characters tend to continuously lie about their sins. Quote: "nor any manifest of the Devil" (102). The reputations of many characters in the crucible including Abigail, John Proctor and Reverend Parris were defined by the many actions and dialogues throughout the play, the Crucible. It also links into the guilt that John proctor feels for having an affair. Somehow, John Proctor manages to do both through his execution of change. It can lead people to commit dangerous acts in return for revenge. He could loose his job if he admits to knowing that these people are. The examples that I would use are that Abigail destroyed Tituba, Mary Warren destroyed John Proctor, Betty destroyed the old man with the beard, and Abigail also destroyed Elizabeth Proctor. They can affect ones future, past, and present. Proctor utters these lines at the end of the play, in Act IV, when he is wrestling with his conscience over whether to confess to witchcraft and thereby save himself from the gallows. In my opinion being honest about something makes you look much better than lying about silly things just to have a good name. A bad reputation on others can result in social or physical punishment. For example, when Reverend Parris discovers the girls dancing in the forest, he hastily warns Abigail that his reputation is in jeopardy by conveying, "Now look you, child, your punishment will come in its time. Because I am not worth the dust on the feet of them that hang! John Proctor, Rebecca Nurse, and Giles Corey all died to maintain their or others reputation. In the novel you can learn about how the girls were spreading lies and accusing citizens of Salem for being a witch. "But I will cut off my hand before I'll ever reach for you again". Many do anything to save their name in town. To get a high-quality original essay, click here. Because I am not worth the dust on the feet of them that hang! Reverend Parris has a false notion of reputation. Reputation affects their actions and majorly influences the choices they make. "These people have great weight in society" Reputation of Danforth "I think you must be a wise judge to be what you are" "He damned the court and ripped your warrant" "I'll have no effrontery here" "I cannot pardon these when twelve are already hanged for the same crime" Reputation of Parris In the crucible the girls accuse many of the towns people of being witches i have seen too many frightful proofs in court-the devil is alive in salem, and we dare not quail to follow wherever the accusing finger points whis is being said by reverend hale expresses, that the hysteria has given power to the girls that are accusing people in town that they do not like. One of the most notable themes is the importance of a good name. The Crucible is set in a town, year 1692, where religion plays a big role in society. In the Crucible, three characters who are concerned with their stature affect how they act in different situations, thus preserving ones reputation is a major and common theme. The Salem witch trials, were basically about a group girls in the village saying that other people in the village were witches, and the people who confess would be free but the people who told the truth would hang. Judge Danforth will let lives be taken even if he knows they are innocent just to save his reputation and credibility. Arthur Miller was able to depict that the people of Salem had clear Christian reputations that they wanted to uphold and sustain in their society. Oppression; an extended treatment of cruelty or injustice towards an individual or a group of people. Having a good name doesnt mean a thing if you hurt others by not telling the truth., In the crucible there are many themes involved but the one that sticks out the most is reputation. This is similar to the, To start, John tells Judge Danforth "Because it is my name! Reputations characteristics could be a strong leader. John Proctor, Judge Danforth, and Reverend Parris are all extremely concerned with their reputations, which affects their actions throughout The Crucible., The reputation of a man is like his shadow; it sometimes follows and sometimes precedes him, sometimes longer and sometimes shorter than his natural size.(French proverb) Reputation is actions that follow you to whom you're known to be. The desire to protect one's reputation drives some of The Crucible's most important turning points. She says they were just having fun in the forest and that they were not doing witchcraft at all. I love God, I bless god. Judge Danforth as well does not want to lose his credibility in the town and will sacrifice other people 's lives to save his good name. Mary warren is not a courageous girl, and only went to defend John and Elizabeth after John forced her to, but she stayed reliable until Abigail inevitably attacked her making accusations that dont hold water. What are some examples of conflict in the crucible? Not only is Proctors own integrity important to him, but also the image created in anothers mind when hearing of a Proctor has an enormous influence on his final decision to not confess to witchcraft in the final trial. Though actions are often motivated by fear and desires for power and revenge, they are also propped up by underlying worries about how a loss of reputation will negatively affect characters' lives. John Procter publicly confesses to having an affair with Abigail willlimas damaging his reputation so that he can save his wife from death. Eventually John Proctor chooses to protect his integrity, damaging his reputation. Parris not cared so much about his reputation he would have come clean about the girls and the trials would probably have stopped.An example of Rev. Both cases show a fear of the unknown and distrusted that is witchcraft and communism. This is explored through themes of hysteria, reputation and guilt. In a theocratic society like Salem, where public and private moralities are one and the same, reputation plays such an important role. Having a good name in the village is everything to the people of Salem; it was how others perceived you and thought of you. The Crucible Intolerance. He is much more concerned about what the village will say if they found out that his daughter and niece have been doing witchcraft, rather than to know if they are ok. During the trials, he knows deep down that the people who have been accused being witches are actually innocent, but because he does not want to be known as the Reverend whose own family have been deceiving the church and killing hundreds of innocent people, he decides he is in far too much and cannot go back. traits that could tear down your reputationin Salem anyways. One of the most important themes in The Crucible is reputation. Themes are the fundamental and often universal ideas explored in a literary work. Throughout the play, the townspeople like Nurse Rebecca are falsely accused of those saving their names such as Deputy Governor Danforth. What is the title a metaphor for?, Which characters could be linked to the theme of religion? He believes that, as the pastor, he is . It is an invisible craft, evidence is hard to consider. I have seen too many frightful proofs in court - the Devil is alive in Salem, and we dare not quail to follow wherever the accusing finger points!" (Hale, Act 2, p. 68) Examples Of Integrity Over Reputation In The Crucible Approximately nineteen people hanged and one crushed by stones, yet all of this could have ceased if everyone showed a bit more integrity. I beg you, sir, i beg you - see her what she is" this reveals that in this moment john proctor is willing to put his reputation on the line for his wife's life however when they ask his wife she says nothing about it, this makes the deputy governor suspect john of lying to protect his wife by making up lies that make the young girls not seem innocent. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. The main two who cared about their reputation would be Abigail and John. Lies and deceit, respect and reputation, and, compassion and forgiveness are there major themes that show itself out in the play. Arthur Miller, the author of The Crucible, puts it in a way that is easy to understand. If you havent, you should read it because it contains good examples of characterization. Many of the women in Salem were accused with little to no evidence supporting the accusations. In The Crucible, some characters will do anything to protect their reputation and others do not seem to worry. Throughout the play you can see Reverend Parris is scared about his reputation in the community due to the witchcraft trials going on. Succinctly, the play is about the Salem witch trials that took place in Massachusetts in 1692. The word crucible has two distinct definitions that are used to define two completely different things. The Salem witch trials were a perfect example of this. Though Miller wrote The Crucible for this purpose, its themes are quite appropriate when considering current events, as the audience is met with the ever-prevalent themes of the severity of false accusations, reputation, and integrity. For example, Parris is fearful that his daughter's and niece's involvement in the alleged witchcraft ceremony will taint his reputation and force him off the pulpit, so he persists in finding others responsible and making his daughter a victim. Themes are the fundamental and often universal ideas explored in a literary work. He does not want, He only thinks about the affects this situation will have on him and his reputation, not her or her well being. Parris discovers Abigail and a group of girls doing a dance in the forest. Lust, guilt, reputation, repression. "You cannot command Mr Parris, We vote by name in this society, not by acreage.". In Arthur Miller's The Crucible, a play set in Salem Massachusetts, preserving one's reputation is a prevalent theme shown in many of the characters. He believes himself to be a righteous person who is known for giving fair punishments to those who have done wrong. When Mary understands that she wont be able to save herself while telling the truth she saves her reputation and her life by yelling No, I love God; I go your way no more. How may I live without my name? Parris, Proctor, and Abby portray the theme that people will go through extreme measures to preserve their reputation. Redemption of what one has once done can affect the way their reputation can be restored. This vengeance came from the girls jealousness and from when she was kicked out of the Proctor house for having an affair with Elizabeths husband, John Proctor. The Crucible follows these trials and how they changed peoples lives and their towns. Reputation has caused challenges faced by humans according to how the other people perceived the situation. "There is a misty plot afoot so subtle we should be criminal to cling to old respects and ancient friendships. There would be no story without characterization. Get professional help and free up your time for more important things. While he is accused of being the Devils man, which he was not, he has to confess to being it because the fear of the community overshadows the truth. Reputation could be negative or positive depending how you are view, One of the common characteristics of Salem society throughout history is fearing the unknown which leads to protect ones self . Through the text there have been anomalies, paradoxes and inconsistencies within the characters behavior that ultimately affected the outcome of the play. In a Puritan society during the witch hunting era, protecting one's name was more important than telling the truth. He confesses and even signs the confession, but he is unable to hand it over. Abby, Proctor, and Parris are the main characters in, Abby, Tituba, Mercy, and Mary were the ones in the forest and Mercy were dancing naked in the forest and that they were drinking chicken blood, which is a sign of witchcraft. Now, however, he has come to a true understanding of what a good reputation means and what course of action it necessitatesnamely, that he tell the truth, not lie to save himself. The Crucible is a play based off historical events that unfolded in the town of Salem that highlights the effects of hysteria and explores the fear that can create critical issues in a society. The feeling of guilt can make it very difficult for people to think properly and enjoy their lives during their time of regret. For instance, townspeoples stature signifies the play and is important to discuss how others defend themselves more than others. you can use them for inspiration and simplify your student life. My examples will prove that these girls were selfish and that they would do anything to anyone just to save/protect themselves. When Mr.Parris finds out about the dancing and possible witchcraft that was going he was more concerned about what people would say about him then the safety of his own daughter. As a result, john will not sign the form because he believes he should not go down like a saint. In act II, tension begins to rise between Elizabeth and John Proctor on the basis of the secrecy of the affair: Because it speaks deceit, and I am honest!, You have taken my soul, but leave me my name! John knows that if the judges post the confession to the door, He wont have anything left of his good self. Anybody could be taken down and tried. Everyone cares about their reputation in the town. God vs Satan Community vs Individual freedom Appearance vs Reality . I have given you my soul; leave me my name!. On the other hand, some people died because they chose dignity over bad Get Access Related How Did The Salem Witch Trials Affect The Community Another characteristic is having a bad reputation by being accused of being a fraud. Reputation can be viewed as the way you dress,the people you are associated with and sometimes people are given a reputation by the acts of the people in their family. America has an over abundance of discrimination and in the crucible almost all the witches are judged on reputation in which all people in American have a reputation to uphold. Hardly any kid can, Approximately nineteen people hanged and one crushed by stones, yet all of this could have ceased if everyone showed a bit more integrity. There are several instances where John Proctor, Giles Corey, or Rebecca Nurse were willing to risk their own lives to maintain their innocence. Names are held at very high stakes. There are many instances in the play where people jump to conclusions and very bad things happen in return. This is expressed in johns character after he had an affair with abigail. Tell them I confessed myself; say proctor broke to his knees and wept like a woman; say what you will, but my name cannot! The Crucible is a play that was a masterpiece, written by Arthur Miller during 1953. Proctor refusing to name other names in order not to spare their lives and refusing to judge others reveal the hero he really is to refuse to do that.Although he lied to the confession he later felt ashamed so he decides to rip the paper of confession accepting to get hung in order to stop, Jean-Marie Bonnet states, For Proctor, his name does not only mean reputation, but truth to oneself and others. In The Crucible, Arthur Miller uses having a good reputation, the character of Parris, and how reputation and The, literary work, there are themes. "(Miller 4.725-729.207). John to Abigail Act 1. Your time is important. The Crucible study guide contains a biography of Arthur Miller, literature essays, quiz questions, major themes, characters, and a full summary and analysis. The most important example in the play comes in the shape of John Proctor. Study with Quizlet and memorize flashcards containing terms like Which characters could be . Parris, Abigail, and others to protect their reputations. The Crucible is set in a theocratic society, in which the church and the state are one, and the religion is a strict, austere form of Protestantism known as Puritanism. Focused on maintaining public reputation, the townsfolk of Salem much fear that the sins of their friends and associates will taint their names. Fear feeds fear. Parris only caring about his reputation is when he say Abigail, I have fought here three long years to bend these stiff-necked people to me, and now, just now when some good respect is rising for me in the parish, you compromise my very character. and he didn't care about whether the girls were okay and only cared about his reputation. But if you trafficked with spirits in the forest I must know it now, for surely my enemies will, and they will ruin me with it" (10). Three characters in particular that share this trait are Reverend Parris, Judge Danforth and John Proctor. Abigail to John P Act 1. The amount of original essays that we did for our clients, The amount of original essays that we did for our clients. Good Proctor is a gasping liar! This quote shows that he trys to portray the theme because he trys to preserve his name by not signing a form because he does not want his name to be above the churches entrance. Explore specific themes in the play, such as the fear of evil, fear of being caught, fear of being alone, and the fear of a. Also, He believes he should not go down like a saint like Rebecca because he believes he. (Free Essay Sample), Theme of Dream in a Raisin in the Sun and Mother to Son, The Gulling of Benedick inShakespeare'sMuch Ado About Nothing (Essay Example), Choice in Sophocles Oedipus Rex Essay Example, Marcus Brutus as a Tragic Hero inJulius Caesar by William Shakespeare (Essay Example), The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time. People judge and view others based on a persons name and how they see that person. This suspicion is confirmed when he states to Abigail, rather than saying trafficking with spirits is dangerous to their spiritual health, that if you trafficked with spirits in the forest I must know it now, for surely my enemies will, and they will ruin me with it, (p. 10, 8). It centralizes on the witchcraft trails that occurred during the 1600s, in Salem, Massachusetts. The Crucible Themes The Crucible Theme Essay 1092 Words StudyMode April 29th, 2018 - The Crucible Theme Essay Courage Truly courage played an important role in the Salem Witch Trials and it may have been one of the key reasons the gruesome Salem Witch Trials finally came to its end SparkNotes The Crucible Themes Because it is my name! However, there are different types of reputation lies being told in the play; such as, Abigail lying to hurt others and boost her reputation, or Mary Warren risking her reputation by telling the truth in order to save John and Elizabeth until she realizes the truth is only putting her life at risk. In the story crucible Abigail had a previous affair with John Proctor, who is now married to Elizabeth and still has feelings for him. One of the first characters we see that sees highly of the idea of reputations is Reverend Parris. The main conflict is Abby because she makes up ridiculous lies about who did it when she was the one doing witch craft in Salem and innocent people died because of it such as: Giles, Proctor, and Rebecca. Concern for reputation is a theme that looms large over most of the events in The Crucible. The play The Crucible, written by Arthur Miller, tells a story of the witch trials in Salem, Massachusetts. John Proctor is known as a good man with proper principles and integrity. He is the head of the church and is a very important person as the peoples lives revolve around their religion. All The first event in which John unleashed his fury was when and affected his reputation was all started one winter when Elizabeth became ill and John had to take charge of Elizabeth's roles around the house, that same winter John had an affair with his Abagail, the ex-housemaid, and broke one of the ten commandments, During the witch trials of . Parris Act 1 Power, paranoia, hysteria, repression, self righteous society "It's a bitter woman, a lying, cold, sniveling woman." Abigail about Elizabeth Act 1 Jealousy, hysteria, power, vengeance Abigail states, "I want to open myself! John portrays the theme because he is trying to protect his name, and he knows he did something bad; however, witchcraft was not what he had done. Yes, having a good name is important but if you dont do something to ruin your good name then you wont have to worry about lying to preserve it., In the Crucible there are many characters who take their reputation matter and think too highly of it. When he refuses to give away other peoples names it is because he likes not to spoil their names, and when he refuses to sign his name, it is to save his own integrity before God and himself (Bonnet 36). This quote portrays the theme because she risks her life to preserve her name by trying to say there is nothing wrong with my name and she lies about not being in forest. While Deputy Governor Danforth, Reverend Parris and Reverend Hale are primarily concerned, Preserving ones reputation is a prevalent theme in The Crucible. One great literary work is The Crucible, a play written by Arthur Miller. Abigail Williams was the main leader and had the power to convict anyone she believed worked with the devil or anyone who was linked to witchcraft; this could have led to imprisonment or hanging. Theme Of Oppression In The Crucible. Reputation is important in the theocratic Salem, where public and private moralities are one and the same. In this historical play, of the Puritans from the late 17th century, that lives in a small town name Salem in the province of Massachusetts that goes through a social and psychological drama due to the witch trials., Everyone cares about their name in some way whether if it negatively or positively impacts that person or society itself. Giles and Rebecca played a large role in standing up to the authority of the Puritan court., I have no tongue for it( Miller 130-131). John Proctor's point is inconsistent with the rest of the town because if it were true he wouldn't have waited and he should have come forward sooner, people had already been hung and it seems like a lie to wait for so long. Because you read my overview of The Crucible, youd probably conclude that the theme of the story is religion or the supernatural, and The Crucible both take place at a time in our nations history that is much studied for its significance. In The Crucible, one of the underlying themes found throughout the novel is the theme of reputation. Abigail was in love with Proctor and she feared losing him. At this point it comes down to what is more important to him; his wife, name and being able to stay alive even if it is in jail, or his religion. Create an account If one were to confess to a witch related crime, they, In the play The Crucible there are many themes floating around. To begin with, The Scarlet Letter and The Crucible relay vital information to the reader about how rule-breakers were considered outcasts in, Why the word Crucible? Definition: able to be seen: clearly shown or visibleSynonym: glaring Antonym: obscure.What does contentious mean - Definition of contentious - Word finder Word finder Word definitions contentious What . It motivates a person to adjust their way of thinking. As we all know reputation is a really big deal in todays society. Also the judges did not want to stop the trials even when they were presented evidence that would have stopped the trials and they didn't even want to see the evidence just because it would have ruined their reputation. Despite Parris being an ordained minister, he lies to the courts about what is niece had done in order to save himself from damnation. The Crucible Reputation The theme of "The crucible" by Arthur Miller is, a good reputation. Like John, Abigail Williams fear overtook her common sense. Themes of Hysteria, Guilt, and Reputation in the Crucible Essay Example The Crucible by Arthur Miller explores courage and personal integrity by allowing the responder to see the world differently through challenges faced by the characters. Firstly, Abby is one of the characters who portrays the theme that people will go through extreme measures to preserve the reputation. The Witchcraft Trials of 1692 were the cause of the death of a lot of innocent people because having a good reputation was very important to some characters in The Crucible, like Judge Danforth and Abigail. Any subject. The Salem Witch Trials took place in 1692. Proctor has made his decision to die with his name intact, and his wife lets him be, saying, He have his goodness now, God forbid I take it from him (Miller 135)., Miller is able to showcase the fear John has for himself, because he if his name were to be put on the church, his reputation would be tarnished. On the surface, Have you ever heard of the play The Crucible? The play The Crucible, written by Arthur Miller, tells a story of the witch trials in Salem, Massachusetts. Abby, Proctor, and Parris are the main characters in The Crucible. However, they do contrast when it comes to the reasoning for each of them "protecting" their reputation. Early in the play, Proctors desire to preserve his good name keeps him from testifying against Abigail. Proctor was willing to sacrifice his life, in order to save the Proctor name for his sons in the generation to come. This is an example of an anomaly due to the girls acting out on what is socially acceptable, this is relevant because the mass hysteria overwhelms the logical individuals, throughput and ends up justifying its own existence. Parris is the religious figure in Salem. Theme 3: Reputation. Because of the theocratic nature of the society, moral laws and state laws are one and the same: sin and the status of an individual . If he openly refuses God he will be openly refused at the gates of heaven. His concern with his reputationthe good name of his familyis behind his refusal to sign a confession implicating him. IvyMoose is the largest stock of essay samples on lots of topics and for any discipline. Crazy right? "There is a faction that is sworn to drive me from my pulpit" Rev. The book gives examples of reputation, power of lies but the most impactful is the theme of revenge. In The Crucible by Arthur Miller Strange, things happen in Salem during 1692, and innocent people got hurt because of it. People must always act morally, in public and private. Because I cannot have another in my life! He believes that life is not worth living if he is not going to have the freedom others receive due to their faith to God. Reputation in "The Crucible": Something Dear; A Reputation In "The Crucible" by Arthur Miller, I found myself struggling to grasp the full intensity he portrayed. Mary please don't hurt me!(106). While all the people in Salem are concerned with keeping up a good reputation, three stand out above the rest. In this historical play, of the Puritans from the late 17th century, that lives in a small town name Salem in the province of Massachusetts that goes through a social and psychological drama due to the witch trials. Many people were hanged, and those who were not grew distant from each, Reputation is the source of motivation. One individual may construe the themes of a book or story differently than another, but that is the pure beauty of themes. This is spoken by Reverend Hale expressing that he feels guilty for all the lives he has signed away now that he believes that life is more precious and that lying is a smaller sin to pay at this time. Amongst this dialog we find that because the hysterical environment of Salem causes persecution of calumny became a common fear of a good, respectable name to be tarnished., Reputations, to some they mean the world, and to others they dont matter at all. In the story The Crucible that Arthur Miller illustrated, begins in a small town in the name of Salem. For example, Reverend Parris is trying to defend his niece Abigail from being accused of lying about witches. In The Crucible it seems that everyone is worried about their reputation and not too worried about the truth. The Crucible by Arthur Miller explores courage and personal integrity by allowing the responder to see the world differently through challenges faced by the characters. 100% plagiarism free, Orders: 30 Various characters base their actions on the desire to protect their respective reputations. Examples of this include the Ebola outbreak, the West Bank Fainting Epidemic and the Borneo Kidnapping Scare. When a young girl falls sick, the town is stirred up over the possibility of witchcraft. This is the core question of Arthur Miller's play The Crucible.